Dear Lifehacker,I’ve been hearing more and more about “big data.”
What is it, and is it something I should be worried about?
Is this another way companies harvest my data and sell it?
Sincerely,Bewitched by Buzzwords
Dear Bewitched by Buzzwords,“Big data” is the latesttech industry buzz-phrase.
That said, there are some places where everyone agrees.
Let’s dive in.
If that were all, we’d be finished.
Unfortunately, “big data” hasalso turned into an overused marketing phrase.
Unfortunately, those statements don’t reallysaymuch.
The information that counts as “big data” also muddies the water.
The datais useful to better sell products, target marketing efforts, or just make better products to sell.
It depends on the company that’s using the phrase.
When you hearDARPA calling for new ways to manage big data, you know they’re legit.
On the bright side, the problem with big data is part of what makes it so useful.
It’s impersonal and contextless.
Just because the data is gooddoesn’t mean that the decisions made using it will be equally good.
Time will tell what those decisions turn out to be.
Data is just thatinformation.It’s how its used that’s at issue.
Unless, of course,you take steps to protect your privacy.
We hope that helps flush the air a bit, Bewitched.
However, it’s important to separate the buzzwords from the facts, and the science from the marketing.
Sincerely,Lifehacker
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Title image made usingCarlos Amarillo(Shutterstock) andphipatbig(Shutterstock).
Additional photos byTony Dowler,Intel Free Press,Cognizant Technology Solutions, andShreyank Gupta.
